shows to inspire

I don't really believe in New Year's Resolutions... Hear me out: if I am going to set a goal, I would prefer to just do it when I feel like it's necessary. I love that the new year is a time for reflection and new beginnings, but I feel like when I set goals in the new year, a month later it becomes a distant memory because I was never that serious about the goal in the first place. So, instead of new resolutions, I am going to keep trying to become a happier and healthier person in 2018.

Something that helps me feel fulfilled is traveling. It's no secret that traveling can be really expensive. I got really lucky because I married someone who’s really good at finding great deals on flights, but it’s still a lot of money to be away from home. There are a few things that I do to satisfy my wanderlust without breaking the bank, and one of those things is building a bucket list. One way that I find inspiration for my bucket list is by watching shows with incredible scenery! Here are 6 shows that seriously inspire my wanderlust:

I know, I know, technically that's two, but they're the same series! I used to watch Planet Earth every Sunday with my siblings. We loved learning about this beautiful hunk of rock floating through space! Here's where you can find the shows:

This film is by one of my favorite freelance photographers, Chris Burkard. He and some of his buddies decided to chase the perfect wave under the Northern Lights. The film follows the group as they weather the largest storm to hit Iceland in 25 years. I will warn you that the documentary only has 3 stars on Netflix, so let me try to interpret... The people who gave this movie low ratings seemed to be expecting a movie about surfers demonstrating their skills; while there are some gnarly waves caught, most of the movie is about exploration and photography.

As I watched Burkard and his team on their expedition, I felt like the film represented a larger facet of humanity; we are constantly searching for the perfect moment, whatever it may be, and while we experience some truly inspiring moments along the way, there are hardships, and we might never hit that level of perfection that we seek. However, Burkard and his team demonstrate that when you put yourself in the middle of something that you feel is larger than just you, despite the horrible storms that come our way (both literally and figuratively 😉), there is always joy to be found in the journey.

Wow! That got kinda heavy (and super cliché)! Well, if you want to watch for yourself:

This is definitely a family favorite around here! If you are looking for a movie with an amazing soundtrack and spectacular views, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a good one! We really like the part when the photographer tells Walter that sometimes he likes to just live in a moment. You can find this movie here:

I love this movie! I went to Ireland as a senior in high school and every time I watch this movie, I desperately want to go back! I feel like Amy Adams never disappoints, and Matthew William Goode is a great counterpart in this film (his lines are so witty and he delivers them with the kind of sarcasm I aspire to use). You can find this movie here:

There are two versions of this movie: one from the 50's and a remake in the 90's. Personally, I like the 50's version better because I am a big fan of Audrey Hepburn, but I also like the 90's version because Harrison Ford makes a fantastic billionaire! During the movie, Sabrina (who's lived above the garage her whole life) ventures to Paris to study fashion and photography. Have you ever seen a cute pillow or piece of wall art that says: "Paris is always a good idea"? Well, that's a reference to this movie! You can find both versions here:

I recently started this series, and I love it! This is behind the scenes footage from the show Human Planet, and you follow the photographers as they are filming. The original series is fantastic, but I really like watching the behind the scenes! You can access it here: